The DOE University Research Instrumentation Program: Assessment of continuing need
Universities play an essential role in maintaining and extending the science and technology base in the US. Their ability to continue making significant contributions increasingly depends on faculty and student access to modern instruments that are critical to the performance of research and development. The level of sophistication of academic equipment has an unmistakable effect on the quality of scientific research and education. With this in mind, the US Department of Energy (DOE) cooperates in an interagency effort to upgrade the quality of university instrumentation through its University Research Instrumentation (URI) program. Begun in FY1984, this program has supported 94 awards totaling an excess of $19.5 million. The purpose of this report is to review the early accomplishments of the Department of Energy University Research Instrumentation Program and to assess the continuing need for university equipment to support energy-related research on campus. This is done through a careful examination of the DOE URI program, its relationship to the instrumentation programs of other agencies, and the combined impact of the programs on university equipment needs. The DOE URI program is shown to have an impact on science and engineering education and academic research. It fills needs not otherwise addressed by supporting the acquisition of specific instruments required for energy-related research and training. In spite of URI's success, the need for academic equipment continues. It is found that between $4 million and $8 million must be provided annually to maintain the current infrastructure of equipment in the $100,000 to $1 million range necessary to support energy-related activities on campus. 23 refs., 4 figs., 12 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76OR00033
- OSTI ID:
- 5521717
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/OR/00033-T384; ON: DE88006081
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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